We shall miss John Peters so much.

His presentation style was distinctive - a true radio man with a voice that powered through. On-air, he conducted the orchestra, mixing voice and music to powerful effect. His programmes had energy and momentum, yet he was thoroughly authentic.  You heard the show, you knew the man.

In recent days, we’ve received simply hundreds of emails from listeners and thousands of comments have been posted on social media - real evidence of the relationship John had quickly built with his audience.

John was the king of chart shows, hosting our weekly Vintage Charts programme since Boom Radio launched. Few have the gift he had for making a chart show an unmissable drama. He indulged his love of ‘50s music in ‘John’s Jukebox’ and was suitably irreverent on ‘The Friday Fandango’.

Born in Middlesex, John was an engineer with the Post Office before being recruited to the radio network for the United Biscuits factories in the early ‘70s, a station which set out to provide music to boost productivity.

As commercial radio arrived in Nottingham, 25 year old John moved up to the Midlands to become the first voice on the City’s Radio Trent almost fifty years ago in July 1975 – then woke up the city for decades.  . A generation remembers hopping on the bus to school to his reassuring tones.

Breakfast radio is a real art – and John understood it perfectly. With his enviable talent and immaculate timing, he could make a few words count for hundreds.

As commercial radio grew and Trent spun off its oldies station GEM AM, John was again called upon to do the honours by launching the station and providing a top quality breakfast show.

John then broadcast on several other East Midlands commercial stations - including being the first voice on Saga Radio – before work at community stations and even a handful of shows on BBC local radio.

Never one to willingly grab the public limelight, his colleagues remember him as a huge part of the spirit of every station he's been at. Larger than life and always good fun. He treated everyone with empathy, respect and friendliness, whether they'd been in business five minutes or five decades. Not one for memos or office politics, John helped with what really mattered - how the team around him felt.

Having met John at Trent, Boom’s Paul Robey and David Lloyd were close to John and he was our first port of call for a chart show presenter.

Only at Boom have his rare gifts been heard across the UK – and John was enormously touched by the enthusiasm you showed for his programmes – whether his old East Midlands listeners or those who’d never heard him before. ‘Where has John Peters been all my life?’ was one comment we recall.

The team at Boom send their condolences to his wife Chrissie and all the family who have been by John’s side during his months of illness.  In turn, they send their huge thanks to you for your thoughtful and generous messages.

A professional of the old school, John felt that the show must go on even when he was not feeling his best. In recent months, often against the advice of his family, medics and Boom colleagues, he insisted on delivering his programmes. Notably, in his final days, utterly lacking in energy, he still climbed the stairs to his home studio one last time. Once the door was closed, John Peters was back, his voice booming out around the house – much to the surprise of his family.

John recorded half a final programme – a Vintage Chart from 1966.  It was scheduled to be broadcast last Sunday but we felt it more appropriate to save it until the shock news of his death had been digested.

We and his family know that he would wish his final chart to be heard – and it will be - at noon on Sunday. Then at 1.00, David Lloyd will take the reins for the second chart (1972), although he promises, with a smile, that even that second hour will not be entirely without some contribution from John. It’s now a time to celebrate John’s contribution to British radio.

And - of course - the Vintage Charts will continue!

John Peters 1950-2025

Recorded on the first occasion the Boom team got together - in 2021.